The Mystic Aquarium (shout out to the first aquarium I ever visited!) is sharing it’s penguin chicks, born February 3, via the web. Visitors who can’t make it to see the chicks in the “feather”, can see their progress until they are fully fledged (which means all grown up!) online.

MYSTIC, Conn.
(February 3, 2009) – Oh baby – new African penguin
chicks just hatched at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for
Exploration! Starting today, people around the world can watch them
grow into full fledglings on a live Web cam at
http://www.mysticaquarium.org.

“The chicks are
nesting in an area of the Roger Tory Peterson Penguin Exhibit that is
off public view,” said Dr. Tracy Romano, senior vice president
of research and zoological operations at Mystic Aquarium &
Institute for Exploration, divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc.
“This Web cam provides us the opportunity to share their
fascinating developmental process with the public.”

During
the first 40 days, the little ones are unable to maintain their body
heat, so they seek warmth under their parents. Viewers will see their
heads and beaks emerge when they are hungry and when their parents
feed them. Later in this period, the inquisitive chicks will slowly
venture on their own into other areas of their room. Once they are
weaned (around day #50), people can observe the aquarium’s
trainers teaching the chicks to feed from them.

At
75 to 100 days of age, the chicks will be fully fledged. Their soft
down will be replaced with juvenile plumage, and they will be ready
to fend for themselves. The fledglings will either join the 26 adult
African penguins on exhibit at the aquarium or go to other facilities
that house the species.

The
cam, which can be accessed from the Mystic Aquarium & Institute
for Exploration Web site homepage (www.mysticaquarium.org), will be
on daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional breaks when the
chicks are removed from the room.

http://sample.mov